Ron Howard presents his new film, Eden, featuring Jude Law and Sydney Sweeney. Released on Prime Video on October 24th, 2025, the thriller has yet to fully engage viewers despite its impressive cast, including Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, and Daniel Brühl.
More than three years after Thirteen Lives, Ron Howard returns with Eden, a thriller that has sparked mixed reviews. The story revolves around a group who abandons civilisation to live on the Galápagos Islands, setting the stage for a tense narrative of survival and murder.
The film immerses viewers in a harsh environment marked by lush but challenging nature, unpredictable weather, and scarce resources. Howard chooses to depict this setting not as a paradise, but as a hostile place filled with power struggles and disorder.
Based on a real event, Eden struggles mainly due to weak character development and slow pacing. The characters come across as caricatures without depth, hindering audience connection.
“Rather than selling us a paradise illusion, Ron Howard uses the thriller genre, one filled with chaos and power struggles.”
“The biggest issues lie in the character development – overly caricatured and barely developed – and plot. Overall it unfolds far too slowly.”
Despite a strong cast and intriguing premise, Eden falls short due to shallow characters and a sluggish plot, making it a challenging watch for thriller fans.
Author’s note: Eden offers a tense survival story but struggles to maintain momentum, limiting its impact despite a promising setup.